Electrode array for neural stimulation
First Claim
1. An electrode array for neural stimulation, comprising:
- a two-part ceramic package further comprising a ceramic base and a ceramic lid, with the ceramic base and the ceramic lid each having a pair of major surfaces and with at least one of the ceramic base and the ceramic lid having a ceramic lip extending outward therefrom to define an interior region between the ceramic base and the ceramic lid, and with the ceramic lid having a plurality of electrical connections extending between the pair of major surfaces thereof, and with the ceramic base having a plurality of electrodes extending between the pair of major surfaces thereof; and
an electronic circuit located within the interior region to receive electrical input signals conducted through the plurality of electrical connections and to generate therefrom electrical output signals which are communicated to the plurality of electrodes for use in neural stimulation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode array for neural stimulation is disclosed which has particular applications for use in a retinal prosthesis. The electrode array can be formed as a hermetically-sealed two-part ceramic package which includes an electronic circuit such as a demultiplexer circuit encapsulated therein. A relatively large number (up to 1000 or more) of individually-addressable electrodes are provided on a curved surface of a ceramic base portion the electrode array, while a much smaller number of electrical connections are provided on a ceramic lid of the electrode array. The base and lid can be attached using a metal-to-metal seal formed by laser brazing. Electrical connections to the electrode array can be provided by a flexible ribbon cable which can also be used to secure the electrode array in place.
158 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An electrode array for neural stimulation, comprising:
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a two-part ceramic package further comprising a ceramic base and a ceramic lid, with the ceramic base and the ceramic lid each having a pair of major surfaces and with at least one of the ceramic base and the ceramic lid having a ceramic lip extending outward therefrom to define an interior region between the ceramic base and the ceramic lid, and with the ceramic lid having a plurality of electrical connections extending between the pair of major surfaces thereof, and with the ceramic base having a plurality of electrodes extending between the pair of major surfaces thereof; and an electronic circuit located within the interior region to receive electrical input signals conducted through the plurality of electrical connections and to generate therefrom electrical output signals which are communicated to the plurality of electrodes for use in neural stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrode array for neural stimulation, comprising:
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a ceramic base having a first major surface and a second major surface, with the first major surface being curved, and with a ceramic lip located about a curved edge of the second major surface and extending towards the first major surface, and with a plurality of electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional array and extending through the ceramic base between the first and second major surfaces; a ceramic lid having a plurality of electrical connections extending therethrough, with the ceramic lid being attachable to the ceramic base to form a hermetically-sealed interior region; and an electronic circuit located within the hermetically-sealed interior region and having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, with the input ports being connected to the electrical connections in the ceramic lid, and with the output ports being connected to the electrodes in the ceramic base to provide electrical output signals to the electrodes for neural stimulation in response to electrical input signals provided to the input ports of the electronic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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- 30. An electrode array for neural stimulation comprising a two-part ceramic package having a ceramic base and a ceramic lid, with the ceramic base having a plurality of electrodes formed therein as a part of the ceramic base prior to the insertion of an electronic circuit into the two-part ceramic package, and with the ceramic lid having a plurality of electrical connections formed therein as a part of the ceramic lid prior to the insertion of the electronic circuit, and with at least one of the ceramic base and the ceramic lid having a ceramic lip extending outward therefrom to define an interior region between the ceramic base and the ceramic lid for insertion of the electronic circuit, and with the electronic circuit having input ports connected to the plurality of electrical connections to receive electrical input signals into the electronic circuit, and with the electronic circuit having output ports to provide output signals to the plurality of electrodes for neural stimulation.
Specification